Laboratory ovens are used in a variety of thermal processing applications including general lab work, component and stability testing, core hardening, drying glassware, and sterilizing.  Ovens are lower temperature (usually <1400 degrees F) thermal processing units, usually without refractory insulation.  Kiln is an alternate name for oven. Kilns are very high temperature thermal processing units, used for firing ceramics or calcining minerals.  Kilns that are for firing ceramic materials use very high temperatures > 2300 F.  Kilns for drying wood or wood products are similar to ovens and run at lower temperatures.  Specific applications for laboratory ovens include aging, annealing, baking, brazing or soldering, burn-off, curing, drying, firing or sintering, foundry or melting, heat treating, hot pressing, preheating, quenching and sterilizing.  Laboratory ovens may also be used for general industrial applications as well.